I landed at Clark Airport or DMIA at 10.15 am on 23rd Jan 2013. The flight was 15 minutes ahead of schedule and I spend 1 hour inside the arrival waiting for another passenger from another flight beyond the custom clearance point. . Clearing immigration and custom was seamless and as we exited the custom area we saw 4 booths in operation, the first one on the left dealing with currency exchange and the second one was an information kiosk on tourism. On the RHS the first one was selling SIM card for handphone and the last booth for Philtranco Bus to Manila. Beyond this point you have exited the arrival area. We bought Sim Cards which entitled us to send 35 SMS only but can received both calls and SMS for 120 pesos.
Just before I left for Manila I learned that there will be a bus to Trinoma Mall at Quezon City for 200 pesos. Enquries at the Tourism Booth drew a blank while the lady manning the Bus booth told us there will be one at 6.30 pm, nearly 6 hours later so I was left wondering how many rides did this service operate a day if at all. The Philtranco Bus was due to leave at 12.40 pm and cost 450 pesos to Pasay or 400 to SM Megamall. Since there were 4 of us in a family we decided to take a taxi instead.
So, we got out of the arrival hall and the first booth we noticed was one managing taxis. A quick glance at the board displaying the price list showed that a taxi ride to Makati, Metro Manila cost 3,916 pesos.. What was interesting was there were guys in uniform around offering us taxi for 3,500 which was eventually settled for 3000 to Makati. I specifically mentioned that I expected to be dropped off at Tune Hotel, Makati. We were then led to the taxi stand and put in a Innova Van with the company name ESCAPED printed at the side. I thought that was it and I am now on the way to Manila. Alas it was not to be. We were driven about 3 Km out and then asked to change to another van without any identification except for the number plate. Along we went and after passing the toll , the driver's handphone rang and he told me that the lady who agreed to the fare said I have to pay 3,500 pesos to Tune Hotel because she was under the impression that I was going to Kimberly Hotel. I was firm and told the driver to send me back to Clark airport if he cannot deliverd me to my destination. Anyway it ended well and I was at Tune Hotel 90 minutes after boarding the first van.
The driver lost of a tip because of a misunderstanding or a purported scam which I will never know. I stayed in Manila for 3 nights at Tune Makati, 2 nights at Tune Ermita and the last one at Tune Angeles but my chidren stayed at Global City with their cousin. All in we took 18 taxi rides, a return bus trip to Tanauan, one long triclyle ride of 15 km and sat on jeepneys thrice. We enjoyed our trip to Manila and will write reviews of the places we went for shopping, sightseeing ,restauarnts and also the transportation system
